Container filling apparatus



March 17, 1970 G. 1.. N. MEYER. sR

CONTAINER FILLNG APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 mm EE MM INVENTOR GEORGE L. N. MEYER lll'li llllll! O JOHN K. CRUMP ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 s. 'L. N. ME YER, sR 3, 0,

con'mmza FILL-m APPARATUS 5 Shuts-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 24, 1966 mvsmon GEORGE L.N. MEYER JOHN K. GRUMP nrronnsv March 17, 1970 e. L. N. MEYER, SR 3,500,380

CONTAINER FILLNG APPARATUS Filed 001;. 24, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 4O GEORGE L.N. MEYER JOHN K. CRUMP ATTORNEY United States Patent CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS George L. N. Meyer, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 589,482

Int. Cl. B65b 31/00; F16k 15/00, 31/08 US. Cl. 141-40 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A counterpressure type filler valve for introducing liquids into containers from a filler bowl, comprising a liquid valve movable between open and closed positions in a liquid passage to control liquid flow to the containers, a central gas tube for initially introducing a counterpressure gas to the containers and for thereafter exhausting gas from the containers as liquid is flowed thereinto, and a generally cylindrical, movable check valve surrounding the liquid valve and cooperable therewith to eflYect a positive closing of the liquid passage to liquid and gas flow when a desired liquid level is reached in the containers. The check valve is adapted to be held in an inoperative position in the liquid passage during filling of the containers by the liquid flowing through the liquid passage and is movable to an operative, cut-off position against the liquid valve when a desired liquid level is attained in the containers by magnetic means located exteriorly of the liquid passage.

The present invention relates generally to the counterpressure system of filling containers with beer, carbonated soft drinks and the like and more particularly concerns an improved means and method for effecting the automatic closing of a liquid passage to the container upon the attainment of a predetermined liquid level therein.

Reference is made to US. Patent No. 2,063,326, issued Dec. 8, 1936, to George L. N. Meyer for a complete showing and description of the type of filling system with which this invention is principally concerned.

As set forth in the above patent, the filling flow of liquid to the container is adapted to be automatically terminated upon the attainment of a predetermined liquid level in the container through the conjoint action of a ported vent tube which projects into the top of the container during filling with a screen or grid member located in a valve controlled liquid flow passage to the container. This cut-off of liquid flow to the container is initiated by the liquid rising in the container to the level of the vent tube ports which are located in a particular relation to the top of the container, depending upon the size and shape of the containers being filled and on the level of liquid desired therein. The covering of these escape ports by the liquid prevents the continued escape of counterpressure gas from the container through the vent tube and results in a momentary cessation of liquid flow to the container. At this point, the liquid which is present in the liquid passage above the screen or grid acts by surface tension to form a liquid film or interface across the screen whereby to preposed to provide the liquid passage with a slotted, flexible membrane or diaphragm and which while capable of a sufiicient yielding or flexing movement during liquid flow therethrough to permit the free passage of pulp, snaps back to an unfiexed position upon cessation of liquid flow to enable the closing of the slots to gas flow upwardly through the passage and to liquid flow downwardly therein by a surface tension action of the liquid in contact with the membrane. It has been found, however, that this type of membrane fails to provide a consistently repeatable flexing action after extended periods of usage and, as a result thereof, the fill heights in the containers tended to become quite erratic.

Moreover, since both the screen and slotted membrane were required to be positioned directly in the path of liquid flow to the container, agitation and turbulence of the liquid stream thereby inevitably resulted and, at high liquid flow rates, such agitation lead to an excessive production of foam in the liquid and in turn to an unstable fill and/or to loss of fill height control in the containers.

Other proposals to effect this closing of the liquid passage to interchange of counterpressure gas and liquid upon the attainment of a predetermined liquid level in the container without the drawbacks of the screen or grid entailed the use of a type of movable closure element such as a choke or throttling element arranged to cooperate with a liquid flow controlling valve in the liquid passage or with an especially configurated portion of such passage, for example, to induce a liquid film formation in the passage by a surface tension action upon cessation of a filling flow of liquid to the container. In these alternative proposals, the movable closure element was generally adapted to be held in a non-obstructing position to liquid flow during the filling of the containers by the kinetic energy or force of the flowing liquid acting against an upstream face or surface of the element and actuating means such as a spring was provided to move the closure into sealing or cut-off position in the liquid passage when liquid flow therethrough terminated.

However, in the prior arrangements of which applicant is aware, the positioning of the movable closure member in the liquid passage was such as to result in a relatively large volume or glob of liquid remaining entrapped in the liquid passage below the liquid film upon actuation of the closure. As this glob of entrapped liquid falls into the container upon closing of the liquid flow control valve and as containers and glass containers in particular are known to have a varying volumetric content in and through their neck regions, substantial variances in the final liquid level obtaining in the containers inevitably resulted in these prior designs.

A further drawback of the pre-existing arrangements stemmed from the fact that the movable closure member generally remained in sealing or cut-off position in the liquid passage upon completion of a filling cycle. A minimum liquid head or pressure was therefore required to be maintained above the closure to assure its proper movement from cut-off position upon commencement of a subsequent filling cycle and to prevent the closure from fluttering or closing prematurely during the filling operation under the bias of its associated actuating means.

In addition to the abovementioned limitations, in these prior proposals, the movable closure element by reason either of its design or arrangement in the liquid passage produced some undesirable agitation of the liquid stream and, in some instances, tended to produce constructional and/ or operational complications in the apparatus within which they were embodied.

Accordingly, it may be stated that a principal object of the present invention is the provision within a counterpressure filling system for containers of means for auto- 3 tatically preventing counterpressure gas flow from the ontainers being filled and liquid entry thereinto when a redetermined liquid level is attained in the containers and which is highly dependable and efficacious of operation with either pulpy or non-pulpy liquids.

A further object of the invention is the provision with- 1 a filling system of the character described ofv means or automatically shutting off liquid flow to a container eing filled upon the attainment therein of a predeterlined liquid level and which means is arranged and contructed so as to produce a minimum of agitation and turulence within the liquid during the filling of the conainer to the predetermined level.

A still further object of the invention is the provision f means for automatically shutting oil liquid flow to a ontainer being filled at a desired point in the filling cycle nd which minimizes the volume of liquid glob droping into the container at the conclusion of the filling cycle whereby to reduce fill height variations in the containers eing filled.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision within a counterpressure filling system of liquid flowshutvff means which engages a main liquid flow controlling 'alve when a desired liquid level is obtained in the conainer to prevent further liquid flow thereto and which is iormally held by such liquid valve in a non-obstruc'tive |osition to liquid flow to the container at the start of a illing cycle.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a ounterpressure filling system of the type described of means for preventing liquid flow to the container when a redetermined liquid level is attained therein and which is .dapted to be actuated to a closing or shut-ofi position 'y structure located exteriorly of the passage.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and ther objects and advantages are carried out in a counterressure filler valve mechanism comprising a main liquid low controlling valve and a generally tubular check valve urrounding the liquid valve and formed with an interior 'alve face or element positioned below the liquid valve in he direction of liquid flow through the mechanism. The heck valve is normally positioned in the mechanism with ts valve face in spaced relation below the liquid valve vhereby to permit liquid flow through the mechanism and adapted to be moved from such inoperative position .nd to a position in which the valve face engages the iquid valve to close the valve mechanism to liquid flow.

In accordance with a further aspect of the instant inention, a novel magnetic means is provided to eflect this losing movement of the check valve against the liquid 'alve when a predetermined liquid level is attained in container while permitting the check valve to remain in ts inoperative positon relatively of the liquid valve during illing of the container to such level.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention vill appear in the course of the detailed description of the nvention appearing hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode lresently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the novel filler 'alve apparatus of the invention operatively assembled vithin a filler bowl with the filler valve shown in a closed osition;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but n a 90 plane thereto, showing the filler valve in a filling ll' open position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view, partly in secion and partly in elevation, of the filler valve apparatus hown in FIGURE 1, illustrating the position of the check 'alve upon completion of a filling flow of liquid to a conainer;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, side sectional view of a uortion of the valve apparatus of the invention, showing details of construction and assembly of the principal liquid flow controlling elements of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the check valve member embodied within the filler valve for terminating liquid flow therethrough when a desired liquid level is obtained in a container.

Referring now to the drawings, a portion of a counterpressure filler 10 of the type employed for the high speed filling of containers with beer, carbonated soft drinks and other liquids having a relatively high content of dissolved gas comprises a rotationally supported, hermetically sealable filler bowl 12 (shown in part only) adapted to contain both a supply of the liquid which is to be introduced into the containers and a suitable counterpressure gas. Although not shown, the filler bowl is provided with conventional controls for maintaining the liquid level therein substantially constant throughout a filling run and to also establish and maintain a predetermined gas pressure in the bowl.

The filling of the containers, such as a bottle 14, from the filler bowl is adapted to be efiected through individual of a series of filler valve mechanisms 16 (one only of which is shown) which are removably retained in corresponding of the assembly openings 18 in the base or bottom wall of the bowl by means of clamping brackets 20.

The bottles or other containers requiring filling are adapted to be fed to and removed from the filler bowl in serialized fashion by conventional starwheel mechanism, not shown, and with which may be cooperatively arranged hydraulic stirrups, also not shown, for elevating the bottles to filling position with respective of the valves and for lowering the same upon completion of the filling operation.

In general, the novel filler valve mechanism of the invention comprises a tubular spring cage 22 mounted vertically in the upper portion of assembly opening 18 above and in axial alignment with a generally cylindrical valve head or housing 2-4 having a radially enlarged extension 26 from the bottom of the bowl, as shown. The gage and housing are preferably provided with suitable external shoulders or flanges for engaging like-shaped abutments in the bore of opening 18 to locate these members in proper axial position in the filler bowl. A packing ring 28 is provided to seal the cage member and housing within opening 18.

The radially enlarged extention 26 of the housing receives a liquid valve assembly 30 disposed above a filling opening 32 defined axially of extension 26 by a' valve seat 34, an annular base or block 36 of a snift valve assembly '38, and a container sealing member or fitting 40. Valve seat 34, which is preferably of rubber or other resilient material, is sealed within the housing by a sealant ring 42 located between a radially outstanding centering lip 44 formed integrally with the valve seat and a cooperating abutment shoulder 46 in the bore of the housing. A metal disc 48 is embedded within the valve seat, as shown, to stiffen the centering lip and the valve seat proper. Base or clock member 36 is disposed below the valve seat and derives its centering in the housing through the seating engagement of a circumferential ridge 50 formed integrally with the valve seat on the underface thereof with a complementary shaped groove 52 provided in the upper face of block 36. Sealing member 40 which includes an outer ring member 54 frictionally seating a rubber sealing cup 56 is sized to fit closely within the bore of the housing immediately below base member 36. The aforementioned parts of the filler valve are removably retained in opening 18 by the clamping bracket 20 engaging upwardly under a clamping shoulder 58 integral with the outer ring 54 of sealing member 40. A machine screw 60 holds clamping bracket 20 to the base of the filler bowl.

Liquid valve assembly 30 includes a substantially frusto-conical enlargement 62 which is an integral part of a tubular valve stem 64 extending centrally the length of the aforesaid spring cage 22. The stem is supported for axially slidable movement in the cage to provide for opening and closing movement of the liquid valve assembly relatively of the filling opening 32 by structure which includes a collar 66 slidably received within the upper end of the spring cage.

The lower terminus of enlargement 62 is provided with a circumferential groove 72 within which is seated a bevel edged closure member 74 of rubber or other resiliently compressible material. The enlargement 62 of the valve stem further supports a vent tube 76 depending axially of the stern and extending centrally through the aforesaid filling opening 32. Vent tube 76 is adapted to be received in the upper portion of a bottle when in filling position with rubber sealing cup 56 of sealing member 40 and is provided with fill height control apertures 78 in its lower tip. A spreader or deflector element 80 is fixed to the tube above apertures 78 to direct liquid flow outwardly towards the sides of the bottle and relatively away from the apertures.

The valve stem is urged relatively towards an upper slide position in the cage and liquid valve assemble 30 to a raised or open position relatively of filling opening 32 by a compression spring 82 compressively held between collar 66 and a spring seat 83 defined in the lower end of the cage, by an O-ring and retainer clip stop structure 84 assembled to the stem above collar 66. Upward sliding travel of the stern in the cage is limited by a pair of wing like extensions 86 provided on the enlargement 62 and which engage a circumferential shoulder 87 defined interiorly of the housing when stem is in an upper side position. It is to be understood that the liquid head above the liquid valve assembly together with the pressure of the gas in the bowl plus the weight of the assembly and stem counter the bias of spring 82 and retain the liquid valve assembly in a normally lower or closed position in the housing until the bottle is properly counterpressurized through structure hereinafter described.

As previously indicated, the present invention has among other objects the provision within a counterpressure filling system such as the type described herein of an improved means for preventing counterpressure gas escape from the container and liquid flow thereinto when a predetermined liquid level has been attained in the container and which while adapted for use both with pulpy and non-pulpy liquids is capable of performing in a consistently repeatable manner over extended periods of usage and of minimizing fill height control problems incurred by liquid dropping into the containers from the filler valve mechanism in the final stage of the filling operation. For accomplishing this, enlarged section 26 of the housing further receives an axially movable check valve member 88 comprising a light gauge sleeve member 90 surrounding the liquid valve assembly and a centrally apertured conical valve element 92 supported by the sleeve in operative relation between the liquid valve assembly and fixed value seat 34.

The sleeve which for reasons to appear hereinafter is composed of a non-magnetic material such as the polycarbonate resin sold by General Electric under the trademark Lexan has a relatively loose sliding fit in the bore of the housing and includes a skirt-like extension 94 below an interior groove 96 provided therein for seating a flanged portion 98 of valve element 92. The skirt 94 is received within an annular liquid trap or well 100 sur rounding a radially reduced upper section 102 of valve seat 34 and which is of a depth such that the skirt remains continuously therein with check valve movement between its limits of travel in the housing. During operation, an initial portion of the liquid flowing through the housing will tendto collect within trap 100 and such liquid in combination with the skirt affords a continuous sliding seal for the check valve in the housing. The reduction 102 in the rubber valve seat is preferably encircled by a rigid ring member 104 to assure constancy of diameter to the liquid trap defining structure.

Valve element 92 which is preferably composed of stainless steel or other magnetic material operates between the conical upper face 106 of the valve seat and closure member 72 of liquid valve assembly 30 to eifect the desired closing of the valve mechanism to interchange of counterpressure gas below the liquid valve assembly with liquid there above at the proper point in the filling cycle While permitting a normal filling fiow of liquid to the container. More particularly, the valve element 92 seats against the upper face 106 of the valve seat through its lower face 92 when the check valve is in a lower slide position in the housing and, with the liquid valve assembly in closed position, is engaged on its upper face 92" by the resilient closure member. The liquid valve assembly as previously indicated is held in this lower position by the liquid head in the bowl and filler valve and by the pressure of the gas above the liquid column and through this gas and liquid media a sealing compression of the valve face 106 and of closure member 72 with the respective surfaces 92' and 92" of valve element 92 is effected whereby to positively close filling opening 32 to flow when liquid valve assembly is in closed position.

The check valve tends to remain in a lower slide position in the housing when liquid valve assembly is in open position in the housing and when a filling flow of liquid to the container has commenced by the kinetic energy of the flow ing liquid acting against valve element 92. An opposing force tending to move the check valve upwardly in the housing and to a position in which the upper face engages the closure member is provided by a magnetic type actuating means and which in the illustrated form of the invention comprises a series of permanent bar magnets 108 located in corresponding of a series of vertical drilled openings 110 in the upper, peripheral portion of the housing extension. These magnets collectively provide a magnetic field which includes the valve element 92 of the check valve when the latter is in its lower slide position in the housing and which field is related in intensity in the region of the valve element to the counteracting kinetic energy of the liquid passing through the housing so as to effect lifting of the check valve to the point where face 92" engages closure member 72 only upon cessation of liquid flow in the housing. Accordingly, therefore, upon cessation of liquid flow to the container, the magnets cooperating with the valve element 92 will cause the latter to move upwardly in the housing into seating engagement with the closure member simultaneously while applying sufficient pressure to the closure member to effect a gas-liquid seal between the latter and the upper face 92" of the valve element. This sealing of the valve element to the closure member by the magnets provides together with the continuous sliding seal afforded between the housing and sleeve by trap and cooperating skirt 94 a complete and positive obstruction to counterpressure gas flow upwardly past the liquid valve assembly and to liquid flow to the container around the assembly when the check valve is in raised position.

In any given construction, the force developed by magnets 108 on the valve element and tending to raise the check valve in the housing may be adjusted as needed to achieve proper operation of the check valve by varying the strength and number of the magnets and/or by varying the spacing between the lower end of the magnets and the valve element. Bar magnets 108 may be sbimmed in openings as by O-rings 112 to permit this latter adjustment.

It is to be noted that during the opening of the liquid valve assembly, the force provided by the flowing liquid and which tends to retain the check valve 88 in seating relation with the upper face 106 of valve seat 34 is momentarily absent. However, inasmuch as the valve element 92 is larger in diameter than the resilient closure member 72, the liquid column present above the valve element is effective against the exposed marginal portion of valve face 92" to prevent the check valve from moving upwardly in the housing in this interim period.

To facilitate the separation of closure member 72 from valve element 92 during opening movement of the liquid valve assembly, the taper angles of the respective engaging portions of valve element 92 and closure member 74 are preferably related to one another in a manner which admits of line contact only between these members. A similar angular relationship is provided between the valve element and upper face 106 of the valve seat 34 to insure the check valve lifting properly from the valve seat at the desired point in the filling cycle. As an indication of the type of construction contemplated for these various members, an actual filler valve mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention incorporated a check valve in which the valve element had a 35 taper angle relative to the horizontal. The beveled edge of the closure member was inclined 30 to the horizontal in this device while the upper face of the valve seat was provided with a 40 taper to the horizontal.

The structure for counterpressurizing the containers includes a. gas charging valve assembly 114 associated with the upper end of the spring cage which carries the valve stem as aforesaid. The assembly 114 which may be of conventional design comprises a cap member 116 slidably fitted onto the top of the valve stem 64 and provided with side ports 118 for establishing communication between the gas within the filler bowl and the valve stem when the cap member is in raised position relatively thereto. A light spring 120 seating between an O-ring 122 in the stem and a raised shoulder 124 on the exterior of cap member 116 balances the weight of the cap and urges the same towards a raised or open position. The upper end of the cap member is provided with a spool-like closure member 126 which is threaded onto the upper end of the cap to hold a packing 128 in position to effect a gas seal at the top of the valve stem 64. The closure member 126 presents an upper and a lower shoulder 130 and 132 respectively and which are adapted to be operatively engaged by an operating lever 134. The lever 134 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 136 which extends through the side of the filler bowl for actuation from outside the bowl in a manner well known in the art.

Referring now to the construction of the snift valve assembly 38, the aforesaid base or block member 36 has a radial outward projection 138 which is accommodated within a suitable opening in the side of the housing 24. The projection defines a valve chamber 140, the blind end of which is countersunk to receive a removable screw bushing 142 which is provided with a restricted snift orifice 144. A passage 146 is provided in the block to communicate the valve chamber with the interior of the valve apparatus in the region of the filling opening via the bushing orifice 144. A cap nut 148 is threaded to the outer end of the projection 138 and carries an axially slidable snift button 150 having a flat 152 to communicate the chamber with the atmosphere through the button The inner end of the button is provided with a valve element 154 which is held to the nut by screw and washer means 156.

The snift button is normally urged to a radially outer slide position in the cap nut to retain the snift valve in closed position by a spring 158 disposed in the valve chamber 140. In this position of the button, the snift valve element 154 seats against the inside face of the cap nut 148 to block communication between the filling opening and the atmosphere via passage 146, orifice 144, valve chamber 140 and the flat 152. Upon inward sliding movement of the button, however, the valve element 154 unseats from the cap nut to place the snift valve in open position and permit communication between the atmosphere and the filling opening whereby to permit venting of the bottle to atmosphere. The snift button is adapted to be depressed at the proper time in the filling cycle to vent the bottle to atmosphere by conventional mechanism which is arranged exteriorly of the filler bowl in a predetermined position around the circumference thereof.

OPERATION In operation and with the filler bowl charged in the conventional manner with liquid and gas under pressure, a container such as a bottle 14 is automatically raised into filling position with an individual filler valve 16 and through the sealing member 40 is both centered relatively to the valve and sealed from the atmosphere.

The operating lever 134 controlling the gas charging valve assembly 114 is initially actuated to a neutral position between the shoulders 130-132 by exteriorly positioned control mechanism to allow the cap member 116 to slide up on the valve stem 64 under the bias of spring 120 and thereby admit counterpressurizing gas from the bowl to the interior of the sealed bottle via the side ports 118 on the cap, the valve stem 64, vent tube 76 and fill height control ports 78. When the gas pressure in the bottle is approximately equal to the pressure in the filler bowl, liquid valve assembly 30 opens due to the bias of compression spring 82 whereupon liquid starts to flow through the filing opening into the bottle. Concurrently therewith, the counterpressure gas passes from the bottle back to the bowl through the aforedescribed flow path provided by the vent tube, valve stem and cap member.

During the opening of the liquid valve assembly 30, the check valve 88 is prevented from unseating from the upper face 106 of the valve seat 34 by the liquid column thereabove acting against the marginal portion of the annular valve element 92. The presence of line contact only between the resilient closure member 74 and the valve element 92 facilitates this separation of the liquid valve assembly from the check valve, as previously indicated. The check valve is forced to remain seated against the valve seat 34 once filling commences by the kinetic energy of the liquid flowing through the housing. FIGURE 2 illustrates the relative position of the liquid valve assembly and the check valve at the commencement of a filling flow of liquid to the bottle.

When the liquid level in the bottle reaches the fill height control ports 78 in the vent tube, gas evacuation from the bottle is substantially retarded or checked which in turn causes an abrupt stoppage of liquid flow through the housing. When this condition occurs, the force developed by the liquid against the check valve and which tends to retain the check valve against the valve seat in opposition to the countervailing force developed by the magnets 108 on the valve element 92 becomes negligible and the check valve is caused by the magnets to move upwardly in the housing and to the point at which valve element 92 seats against the underside of the resilient valve closure member 74, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The skirt 94 of the check valve remains in the liquid trap surrounding the valve seat 34 when the check valve is in this upper slide position and there is thereby effected a positive gas seal in the housing, blocking communication between the bottle and the filler bowl. Counter-pressure gas within the headspace of the bottle and within the housing below the resilient valve closure member 74 is thereby affirmatively precluded from escaping back to the filler bowl and, at the same time, liquid flow downwardly past the closure 74 is positively prevented. Further liquid flow to the bottle is therefore stopped at this point in the filling cycle.

- The next stage of the filling cycle involves the closing of the gas charging valve and the liquid valve assemblies whereby to return the filler valve to the initial closed condition of FIGURE 1. This is accomplished in the conventional manner; that is, by' suitably pivoting the operating lever 134 downwardly against the lower shoulder 132 of spool member 126 to cause cap member 116 to slide uown on the valve stem 64 against the bias of spring 120 to initially cover the side ports 118. Downward movement of the lever against shoulder 132 is continued until cap 116 bearingagainst the top of the stem causes the latter to be lowered fully in the spring cage. In this downward movement of, the stem, the liquid valve assembly returns to closingposition over filling opening 32, simultaneously while returning check valve 88 to its normally inoperative or lower position in the housing.

Immediately after this step, the head space of the bottle is vented to the atmosphere through the shift valve assembly 38. This is accomplished through the engagement of another exteriorly positioned control device with the snift button "150 and which effects a depression or inward sliding movement of the latter to lift the snift valve element 154 olf its seat and thereby establish communication between tlie atmosphere and the bottle head space via the passageway 146, orifice 144, valve chamber 140 and the fiat 152. The restricted nature of the orifice 144 assures a gradual release of the pressure within the bottle whereby to prevent undesirable agitation of the liquid fill during the venting or snifting operation.

At the completion of the shifting step, the filled bottle is lowered from the filler valve and removed for a final cappingq or crowning operation.

The herein described novel combination with the liquid valve assembly of the tubular check valve provides a highly effective and dependable means for closing-a liquid passage to counterpressure gas escape from the container and toliquid flow thereinto at the desired point in' the filling cycle and one which presents no restricted flow passages or surfaces susceptible of becoming clogged when filling with liquids having a heavy pulp content. Additionally, because of its generally tubular construction, the check valve provides an insignificant amount of interference with and obstruction to the liquid as it fiows through to the container. This permits a high liquid velocity through the valve mechanism of the inventionwithout incurring excessive foaming in the liquid or without impairing the stability of the resultant fill.

The check valve described is of further advantage in that by effecting the gas-liquid seal approximately in a plane coincident with the resilient closure member, the volume of liquid which remains entrapped in the valve mechanism at the conclusion of the filling operation is relatively small. This minimizes the effect of such glob on the final fill height obtaining in the containerand enables a greater degree of uniformity in liquid filling levels.

A principal further advantage of the herein described valve mechanism stems from the particular form and arrangement of the means employed therein for effecting movement of the check valve to its cut-off or closing position in the liquid flow path upon the attainment of a desired liquid level in the container. That is to say, the present invention by providing for check valve movement through the interaction of a series of magnets located exteriorly of the flow passage with an integral operating part of the check valve, viz. the valve element, obviates the necessity of providing the flow path with additional structure, such as a spring for example, to provide this function. The flow restrictive afiects and constructional and operational complications which inevitably attach to such internally located actuating structure are thus of no concern in the novel design of the instant invention.

The relative positioning of the check valve and the magnets in the housing is of particular advantage in that the attractive force developed by the magnets on the valve element is at a minimum when the check valve is in its normally lower slide position in the housing. As a result thereof, the tendency of the check valve to flutter or raise partially from the valve seat prematurely during the filling cycle is greatly minimized. Further with the specified arrangement, no initial movement of the check valve is required to commence a filling flow of liquid 10 through the mechanism and thus the filling operation may be conducted with a relatively low head of liquid in the filler bowl without adverse affect on the filling operation.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointed out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A counterpressure filling valve mechanism for filling a container through a passageway from a source of liquid comprising:

a liquid control valve including a movable valve element for controlling the flow of liquid through the passageway to the container;

a vent tube means for delivering counterpressure gas to the container and for venting gas from the container during flow of liquid thereinto;

a fixed valve seating means located in the passageway in downstream relation to the liquid control valve;

movable check valve means cooperable with said liquid control valve to close the passageway to flow of liquid to the container and to flow of gas back through the passageway from the container upon attainment of a predetermined liquid level therein, said check valve means including a tubular sleeve portion for guiding the check valve means for sliding movement in said passageway, said sleeve portion formed on its downstream end with a skirted extension fitting within an annular liquid trap surrounding said fixed valve seating means to afford said check valve means a sliding seal in the passageway, said sleeve portion further formed with a doubleacting interior seat portion adapted to engage the fixed valve seating means during the filling of the container to the predetermined level and engageable by sliding movement of said check valve means in said passageway with the movable valve element of said liquid control valve when the container is filled to such predetermined level to close said passageway to liquid and gas flow;

actuating means for moving the check valve means to closing position upon the attainment of a predetermined liquid level in the container;

and means for moving the movable valve element of said liquid control valve between open and closed positions in the passageway, said means being also effective to move the seat portion of the check valve means to a position of engagement with the fixed seating means during movement of the movable valve element from an open to a closed position in the passageway.

2 A filling valve mechanism according to claim 1 in which the seat portion of the check valve means is of a magnetic material and the actuating means for the check valve means includes at least one magnet located exteriorly of the passageway.

3. A filling valve mechanism for filling a container through a passageway from a source of liquid comprising:

a liquid control valve including a movable valve member for controlling flow of liquid through the passageway into the container;

a fixed valve seating means located in the passageway in downstream relation to the liquid control valve;

movable check valve means for closing the passageway to liquid flow when a predetermined liquid level is attained in the container, said check valve means including a movable, double-acting seat portion selectively engageable with the movable valve member of said liquid control valve when the check valve means is moved to a closing position in the passageway and with the fixed valve seating means when the check valve means is moved to a non-closing position therein;

fixedly mounted magnetic means for moving said check valve means to closing position in the passageway upon the attainment of the predetermined liquid level in the container while permitting the check valve means to remain in non-closing position during the filling of the container to such level, said magnetic means including a magnetic member located exteriorly of the passageway and positioned relatively of the movable check valve means to provide a maximum magnetic force on said check valve means when the latter is in closing position in the passageway and a minimum magnetic force on said check valve means when the latter is in a non-closing position in the passageway.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,385,327 5/1968 Granier -141-39 2,646,071 7/1953 Wagner 251-65 x 3,143,151 8/1964 Denis 14148 x 3,348,543 10/1967 Stafford 251-65 x FOREIGN PATENTS 1,238,284 7/1960 France.

1,004,828 9/1965 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

